Fishhook removal

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Skin layers

(Page 2)

• DO NOT try to remove fishhooks that are stuck in the eye, near an artery, or stuck very deeply in the skin or body.
• DO NOT close the fishhook wound with tape and apply antibiotic ointment. Doing so can increase the chance of infection.

Seek immediate medical help if the fishhook is in the eye or located near an artery.

The main advantage to getting medical help for other fishhook injuries is that the fishhook can be removed under local anesthesia. That means the part of your body that is hurt is numbed with medicine before the fishhook is removed.

Call your doctor if:

• You have a fishhook injury and your tetanus immunization is not up to date (or if you are unsure)
• The area where you removed a fishhook starts to show signs of infection such as increasing redness, swelling, pain, or drainage

Review Date: 01/05/2011
Reviewed By: Jacob L. Heller, MD, MHA, Emergency Medicine, Virginia Mason Medical Center, Seattle, Washington. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org).

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